DISNEY’S FROZEN OPENS IN AUTUMN 2020 IN LONDON’S WEST END
As Frozen celebrates its first year on Broadway, Disney Theatrical Productions today announces the opening of a new production of the musical in London’s West End in Autumn 2020. With music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, and book by Jennifer Lee, Michael Grandage’s production, with set and costume designs by Christopher Oram, lighting design by Natasha Katz, and choreography by Rob Ashford, will reopen the newly refurbished Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
Frozen – produced by Disney Theatrical Productions under the direction of Thomas Schumacher – opened on Broadway in March 2018 and quickly established itself as the biggest new musical hit of its season, nominated for the Tony Award® for Best Musical. In addition to the opening in London, the musical has a North American tour planned for Autumn 2019, productions in Australia and Japan opening in 2020, and a further production for Hamburg in 2021.
The highest grossing animated film of all time, Frozen was released in cinemas in 2013, winning multiple awards, including two Academy Awards® for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song (“Let It Go”), the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature Film and the BAFTA for Best Animated Film. It was written and directed (with Chris Buck) by Jennifer Lee, with music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. Frozen 2 will be coming to UK cinemas this November.
Audiences are invited to learn more about Frozen the Musical and to sign up for priority booking at FrozenTheMusical.co.uk. Performance schedule and casting to be announced at a later date.
Jennifer Lee said today, “We’re so humbled by the continued support for Frozen – at its heart, a joyous story about love and sisterhood. We’re very excited to share what we have created on stage with London and to see it come to life in that gorgeous theatre.”
Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez commented, “The power of Frozen comes from the story of two strong, very real women saving their world by leaning in to their deep love for one another. Expanding this story has been an absolute joy. We went deeper and discovered several song moments that enrich the story in a new emotional and theatrical way.”
Michael Grandage said, “Bringing Frozen to the stage has been a gloriously happy journey. We’re all looking forward to getting back in the room together as a creative team, to build our London company and bring Frozento the West End.”
Thomas Schumacher, President & Producer Disney Theatrical Productions, added, “As Frozen celebrates its first year on Broadway, we’re thrilled to share the London plans for the show. Michael Grandage has created a production that is as full of heart and joy as it is spectacle. It will be an honour to reopen Andrew Lloyd Webber’s gorgeously refurbished Theatre Royal Drury Lane, one of the crown jewels of London’s West End.”
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane, owned and managed by LW Theatres, is closed for 20 months for a landmark £45 million renovation and restoration project and will reopen as Frozen begins previews.
With choreography by Rob Ashford,set and costume design by Christopher Oram, lighting design by Natasha Katz, sound design by Peter Hylenski,video design by Finn Ross, puppet design by Michael Curry, and musical supervision and arrangements by Stephen Oremus.
Kristen Anderson-Lopez’s theatre credits include In Transit (Broadway), Up Here (La Jolla Playhouse) and Finding Nemo: The Musical (Disney World, running since 2006). For television, her songs include for 87th Academy Awards (Emmy® nomination), The Comedians, and The Wonder Pets. For film, her work includes Disney Pixar’s Coco (Oscar® Best Original Song win for “Remember Me”, Grammy nomination), Frozen (Oscar and Grammy Award® wins for “Let It Go”), Winnie The Pooh, and the forthcoming Frozen 2. She was a 2014 recipient, and now board member, of the Lilly Awards.
Robert Lopez’s Broadway credits include as co-creator/writer of The Book of Mormon (five Olivier Awards including Best New Musical and Outstanding Achievement in Music; nine Tony® Awards including Best Book, Best Original Score and Best Musical), co-creator/songwriter of Avenue Q (three Tony Awards including Best Original Score and Best Musical). Other theatre work includes Up Here (La Jolla Playhouse) and 1001 Nights(Atlantic Theater). His television work includes songs for The 87th Academy Awards, The Simpsons, South Park, Scrubs and The Wonder Pets. For film, his work includes, Disney Pixar’s Coco (Oscar® Best Original Song win for “Remember Me”, Grammy nomination), Frozen (Oscar Best Original Song win for “Let It Go”), and the forthcoming Frozen 2.
Lopez is one of 12 artists to win Emmy®, Grammy®, Oscar® and Tony Awards® (EGOT).
Jennifer Lee is Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios. She is the Academy Award®-winning writer of Walt Disney Animation Studio’s Frozen, which she also directed with Chris Buck. For her work on Frozen, Lee received numerous awards including a Golden Globe, a Critics’ Choice Award, a BAFTA and an Academy Award®. Her Disney Animation career began as co-writer of the Oscar®-nominated Wreck-It Ralph. She also wrote the screenplay for Disney’s 2018 release A Wrinkle in Time. Currently, Lee is writing and directing Frozen 2.
Michael Grandage is Artistic Director of the Michael Grandage Company in London. For the company he directed Henry V, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Cripple of Inishmaan, Peter and Alice and Privates on Parade, Dawn French: 30 Million Minutes Photograph 51, Red and The Lieutenant of Inishmore, and the feature film Genius with Colin Firth. He was Artistic Director of the Donmar Warehouse (2002–2012) and Artistic Director of Sheffield Theatres (2000–05). He is the recipient of Tony, Drama Desk, Olivier, Evening Standard, Critics’ Circle and South Bank Awards. He has been awarded Honorary Doctorates by the University of London, Sheffield University and Sheffield Hallam University and is President of Central School of Speech and Drama. He was appointed CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2011. His book, A Decade At The Donmar, was published by Constable & Robins in 2012.
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DISNEY THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS (DTP) operates under the direction of Thomas Schumacher bringing live entertainment events to a global audience of more than 20 million people a year in more than 50 countries. Current London: Aladdin at The Prince Edward and The Lion King, approaching its 20th anniversary at The Lyceum. Other London credits: the Olivier-nominated play Shakespeare in Love and DTP’s inaugural production Beauty and the Beast, which won the Olivier Award for Best Musical. Other productions on Broadway and around the world: Frozen, Newsies, Peter and the Starcatcher, The Little Mermaid, Mary Poppins, a co-production with Cameron Mackintosh, TARZAN® and Elton John & Tim Rice’s Aida. Other successful stage musical ventures have included productions of Disney’s High School Musical, Der Glöckner Von Notre Dame in Berlin, and King David in concert.
Worldwide, its nine Broadway titles have been seen by over 160 million theatregoers, and have been nominated for 20 Olivier Awards, winning the honour five times. With 20 productions currently produced or licensed, a Disney musical is being performed professionally somewhere on the planet virtually every hour of the day.
THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE
LW Theatres will breathe new life into the unique and iconic architecture of their Grade 1 Regency building and restore the historic theatre to its former 1812 glory. The revived Theatre Royal Drury Lane will also be the first commercial theatre in the West End to offer facilities beyond the regular theatrical fare, creating a true destination venue in its own right. Front of house facilities will be open to the public all day and include bars, restaurants and cafes so the iconic interiors can be enjoyed by everyone not just theatre goers in the heart of Covent Garden.